This piece was bought at a Native American auction about twenty years ago. The blade was an old knife at one time which was cut down and was reworked. Some people I have showed this to believe the knife blade is from the late 1700's due to its construction. The shaft is wood with smoke decoration, and has squared brass tacks for decorative purposes. The mouthpiece area has leather fringe with white trade beads attached.On one of the pieces of leather is an old american coin dating to the 1830's. It is my guess that there were coins on all the pieces of fringe, but through the years they were removed.